A tip-off tournament— often called a Tip-Off Classic — is a basketball event held at the very start of a season. Schools, AAU programs, rec leagues, and adult leagues use it to open the year: teams get real games before conference or league play starts, coaches see their rotations under pressure, and the community gets a weekend of basketball to rally around. It's also one of the best fundraisers a program can run.
Here's how to plan one, from picking a date to handing out the trophy.
1. Pick the date and the field
Most tip-off events land on the first weekend teams are allowed to play — for school seasons that's usually late November or early December; for summer and AAU circuits, the first open weekend of spring. Lock the date early, because good gyms book out fast in the opening weeks of a season.
Decide your field size next. A 4- or 8-team invitational fits in one gym on one day. A 16-team open field or multiple age divisions usually means two days or two sites. Rule of thumb: an hour of court time per game, and you need about as many games as the format below calls for.
2. Choose a format that guarantees games
Season-openers are about getting reps, so don't send half the field home after one game. The two formats that work best:
- Pool play into a bracket — teams play every other team in a small pool, then the top finishers advance to a championship bracket. Every team gets at least two or three games. (How pool play works.)
- Double elimination — out after two losses. Great for an 8-team invitational.
If you're short on gym time, a classic 8-team single-elimination bracket with a consolation round (losers keep playing for 5th place) keeps everyone on the floor for three games. Compare the options in our tournament formats guide.
3. Book courts, refs, and a scorer's table
- Courts:book enough hours for every game plus a buffer at the end — finals can't start until semis finish.
- Officials: two refs per game is standard for school-age and competitive adult events. Book them as early as the gym; the first weekend of the season is their busiest too.
- Scorekeepers: one volunteer per court with the scoreboard and a phone to report finals.
- Insurance: many gyms require event liability coverage. Ask when you book.
4. Set an entry fee that covers costs
Add up gym rental, officials, trophies or medals, and any shirts, then divide by the number of teams — that's your break-even. Most tip-off events price a little above that so the extra funds the program. Gate fees and a concession stand are bonus revenue. For the full math, see how much to charge for a basketball tournament.
5. Open registration and collect payment up front
The single biggest headache for organizers is chasing entry fees through texts and payment apps the week of the event. Collect payment at registration instead: a team isn't in the bracket until they've paid, and when the field fills, extra teams go to a waitlist.
6. Publish the bracket and schedule
Once registration closes, seed the field and publish the schedule at least a few days out so coaches can plan travel. Give every team a link where they can see game times and courts, and post a printed schedule at the gym door. Send a reminder the day before.
7. Run game day from your phone
Have scorekeepers report each final as soon as the buzzer sounds. When results update live, the next matchup is set instantly, teams know when they play next, and parents in the stands can follow the bracket without crowding the scorer's table.
8. Crown a champion — and announce next year
Take a photo with the trophy, post the final bracket, and thank the teams. Then open interest for next year's tip-off while everyone is still in the gym. A tip-off classic that runs on time and pays out fairly becomes an annual tradition fast.
Name ideas for your tip-off event
A good name tells people when and where: [Town] Tip-Off Classic, [School] Season Tip-Off, Thanksgiving Tip-Off Tournament, Opening Tip Invitational, or [Team] Hoops Tip-Off Showcase. Keep it the same every year so it builds recognition — and so people can find it when they search.
Ready to set yours up? Follow our step-by-step guide to creating a tournament on Tipoff.